FIRST Youth Protection Program

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by mklinker

How many students being molested by an Adult is too many?

One is too many

Originally Posted by mklinker

Do you really think that this has never happened in FIRST?

I doubt many here believe that this has never happened in FIRST.

Originally Posted by mklinker

Is it really not worth your time to further guarantee the safety of the youth involved?

Nothing in the YPP guarantees the safety of the youths involved. The YPP protects FIRST from some lawsuits, nothing more.

Originally Posted by mklinker

Yes, the video is long and asking for your SSN in intrusive but the SSN is what is used to do a limited criminal history check. This has been done in other youth organizations for some time (Boy Scouts for example). Ask BSA how much it cost them when they did NOT have a solid youth protection program implemented.

For those concerned with the selling of data the opt out process is simple.

SSNs are, by law, not to be used as a national ID. They are to be used only for tax and employment reasons.

And as far as selling of my personal information goes ... it is my information to give. I should inform someone when they can use it (opt in), not have to tell someone when they cannot use it (opt out).

I've had many background checks in my time. Never have I had one where I've had to opt out of allowing them to use it for solicitation. FIRST has, while trying to protect itself, sold out it's greatest resource ... the mentors.

JM(NS)HO